Transcript Winlink Training 2007

Winlink 2000
An Introduction to
eMail over Ham Radio
Presented by
Bud Semon N7CW
Contributors
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Steve Waterman, K4CJX
Scott Pederson, KI5DR
Alex Kelly, WU2W
Bill Gerth, W4RK
Howard White, KY6LA
Victor Poor, W5SMM
Rick Meuthing, KN6KB
Alan Jorgenson, KE6SQS
Why eMail?
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Using e-mail is universal.
Minimum training required.
Large amounts of data/information may be
exchanged, accurately:
• Detailed damage or status reports.
• Detailed work assignments & shift changes.
• Lists of equipment and supplies needed.
• Graphic or text-based Medical information.
• Anything else that may be handled routinely
by e-mail, including attachments.
Every transfer is a permanently stored record.
Data/information is secure from casual
monitoring.
3
For complex messages, voice, Morse code,
Radiograms, won’t do…
WHY?
 text only
 very slow
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translation required
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inflexible, prone to error
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no permanent record
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not self-originating
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not reliably point-to-multipoint
Why Winlink?
July, 2003: In cooperation with its partnership
with the Department of Homeland Security, and at
their recommendation, the ARRL Board has agreed
to provide a nationwide digital system to enhance
the communications capability of the Amateur
Radio Emergency Service (ARES®).
There are situations, the Board said, when
ARES® "must have the capability to pass digital
traffic across the nation quickly and accurately.”
Purpose of Winlink 2000 in the ARES
Environment:
To supply de facto e-mail for served agencies:
• from inside a disaster area
• without normal e-mail servers or Internet
connections being available within the “last
mile” affected area.
What is it?
Winlink is basically an improvement to packet radio.
It uses message drafting software similar in appearance to
standard e-mail handling applications and transmits them
in various digital modes
 VHF/UHF Packet (using Airmail or Paclink freeware)
 HF Pactor (using Airmail freeware)
 and Telnet (from a normal Internet connection).
At the receiving end of VHF/UHF and HF transmissions, it is
either held for other participating stations or it enters the
Internet for further transmission anywhere as normal email.
Winlink 2000 Today
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Created seven years ago for open water boaters and RV
users
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Approximately 150,000 radio message/260,000 minutes
through system, monthly.
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Over 7,200 weekly users to over 85,000 e-mail recipients.
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Over 50 standard participating locations (PMBOs) with 25 in
USA. Many locations contain both VHF Telpac and HF
Winlink capabilities.
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HF radio access, VHF/UHF radio access, Telnet internet
access, WEB browser access.
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2.1 minute average delivery time
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Endorsed by the ARRL as a viable emergency digital
communication system
Benefits to Served Agencies
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Backup, radio SMTP e-mail until “last mile” is restored
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VHF/UHF for local area connection to Internet
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HF for distant connection to Internet
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Familiar e-mail interface
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Local “Hubbing” even with no Internet access
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No software or hardware necessary behind Firewall
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Control operator need not be present for third-party digital
traffic. (§97.109 Station control, for 3rd Party traffic rules) Not
directly accountable for content (§97.219(c.)
How is it done?
By connecting to stations that run Participating Mail Box
Operations (PMBOs) 24/7.
VHF or HF Radio
Remote
Station
Data
Interface
Computer
The PMBO is
connected to the
internet at all times.
VHF or HF Radio
Data
Interface
There are over 300
VHF Telpac PMBOs
and 25 HF PMBOs in
the USA. There are
more than 50 HF
PMBOs worldwide.
The Internet
PMBO
VHF PMBOs with
internet gateways are
called TELPAC
stations – a
combination of the
Telnet internet
connection and
Paclink.
TELPAC stations may be
associated with an HF
PMBO using a substation ID
(-1, -2) from the the PMBO
or stand alone and connect
to the Internet via any
TCP/IP link, including
ICOM’s D-Star or “WiFi”
802-11b.
VHF Radio
W6IM-1
W6IM
VHF Radio
VHF and
HF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Compute
r
Data
Interface
TELPA
C
Telnet
via ISP
PMBO
D-Star
802-11b
The Internet
The Network
Other computers, or
Central Mail Box
Operations (CMBOs),
organize and manage the
network traffic. There are
only two, one in Ohio, and
one in California.
VHF and
HF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Compute
r
CMBOs are transparent to
users. They are
redundant, and you never
know they are there.
PMBO
PMBO
The Internet
CMBO
CMBO
Winlink allows you to
transmit standard e-mail
directly to all Internet email users worldwide, as
if you were using your
home or office computer.
Likewise anyone
anywhere can send you
an e-mail back through
the same system.
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Compute
r
PMBO
The Internet
CMBO
Adding a Local Area
Network (LAN) to the
PACLINK computer
permits multiple
individuals within the
served agency to send
and receive radio e-mail.
PACLINK is now an email server.
PACLINK may be placed in
the “DMZ” zone in front of
the firewall.
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Compute
r
Compute
r
PMBO
The Internet
SERVED AGENCY
LAN
And you can send radio
e-mail to other amateur
stations via Paclink
(VHF) or Airmail
(HF/VHF) without the
Internet.
The PMBO will hold the
e-mail in queue waiting
for the receiving station
to connect.
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Compute
r
Compute
r
PMBO
There are lots of options to get the email delivered….
If the local PMBO has an
outage, you can make a
connection with another
local TELPAC station
…Or…
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
TELPA
C
Compute
r
PMBO
The Internet
… you can traverse the
packet network using
nodes to get to a
connected TELPAC station
or PMBO…Or…
NODE
NODE
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
TELPA
C
Compute
r
PMBO
The Internet
…you can use an HF
station to get to a distant
connected PMBO using
Airmail…Or…
HF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Compute
r
PMBO
(local)
The Internet
PMBO
(distant)
…if your computer has a
valid internet connection,
Telnet can be used to send
and receive e-mail through
an ISP via a PMBO to other
Winlink or Paclink
stations. This is handy for
fixed stations because it is
fast.
PACLINK stations can
switch between preset
radio destinations and
Telnet connectivity to find
a connection to a PMBO.
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
VHF Radio
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Data
Interface
Compute
r
TELNET
Compute
r
PMBO
The Internet
TELNET
What you need to get started with Winlink
VHF (Paclink)
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Computer (recommended
OS Windows 2000 or
better)
TNC and cables &
Airmail software
-- or -TNC and cables & Paclink
AGW and AGWPE software
-- or -Soundcard Interface
(e.g. Rigblaster) &
Paclink AGW and AGWPE
software
VHF radio with data cable to
computer soundcard
interface or TNC
Suitable antenna
What applications to get for Winlink HF and
VHF (using a TNC):
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Go to www.winlink.org and click
on the link for the Airmail
Webpage
-- or -Go directly to
http://www.siriuscyber.net/ham/
and download the latest version of
Airmail Ham Client
For HF use, a linked propagation
table is available by also clicking
on the link to the NTIA/ITS
website and downloading the
propagation application.
You may also need
Winzip, Adobe Acrobat
Reader and antivirus
software.
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Read and follow the
installation instructions!
What applications to get for VHF Paclink,
using a TNC or soundcard interface (no
TNC):
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Go to www.winlink.org to
download Paclink AGW and
Paclink Post Office
Go to www.elcom.gr/sv2agw
and download the latest
AGWPE packet engine
An Email interface is required –
Outlook Express is
recommended – free with
Internet Explorer
NOTE: Paclink requires the new
Microsoft .NET framework.
Click on the link to Microsoft Downloads
at the Winlink 2000 Download page
You may also need
Winzip, Adobe Acrobat
Reader and antivirus
software.
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Read and follow the
installation instructions!
Sound Card/Interface Setup
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Any SoundBlaster Compatible Sound Card
RigBlaster – Serial Port Control
• See www.westmountainradio.com/RIGblaster.htm
- or RigExpert – USB Port
• See http://www.mixw.net/RigExpert/
- or Any device that can isolate radio from computer and match
audio input and output levels will work
• Radio Shack Audio Isolation Transformers (1200 baud
only!)
See
http://www.patmedia.net/ralphmilnes/soundcardpacket/
VHF or UHF?
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Most modern VHF radios will work at 1200 baud packet
9600 Baud Packet is possible but needs a high quality radio
For a good discussion, see
http://www.patmedia.net/ralphmilnes/soundcardpacket/6modes.htm
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There are not many UHF Telpac nodes – for the best
interoperability – remember to KISS.
A WINLINK 2000 HF FIELD STATION
You will need the following equipment:
• HF transceiver (IC-706MKIIG, FT-897D or equivalent)
• Pactor capable TNC:
• Pactor I @ 200 bps – TNC is cheap or free
• Pactor II @ 800 bps – TNC is moderately expensive
• Pactor III @ 3600 bps – TNC is very expensive
• HF multi-band (mobile/portable) antenna, and possibly an antenna tuner
• 12V DC power source
• Laptop Computer (Win 98, NT, 2000, XP) and Airmail software
Example of Portable
Winlink Station: HF
Jerry Reimer HR3/KK5CA:
IBM 300 Mhz laptop running XP Pro OS, Airmail, SCS PTCII
with Pactor 3 license, Icom IC-706 Mk IIG, LDG Electronics
Z100 tuner, MFJ switching power supply.
Example of Portable
Winlink Station: VHF
Mike Bourke W5LMB:
Dell P150 laptop running WIN-98,
Airmail, KPC-3 TNC,
Kenwood TM-201B radio,
powered by 36 AH SLA battery
in separate case.
Equipment/Software Decision Tree
Choice of TNCs
P1
Software = Airmail
HF
Pactor 1, 2 or 3?
P2 or P3
SCS TNC
VHF or HF?
VHF
Soundcard
Software = Paclink & AGWPE
Needs audio isolation
TNC or Soundcard?
No
TNC
Software = Paclink & AGWPE
Airmail Support?
Yes
Software = Airmail
Software Operation
Email
Program
Packet/Telnet
Interface
Email
Server
Radio
Interface
Outlook
Express
Paclink AGW
Paclink
Postoffice
AGWPE
Part of Airmail
N/A
N/A
Part of Airmail
Questions?
See: www.winlink.org
Or call Bud, N7CW, at 928-771-8267 or [email protected]